filters---help please.

canblue5

canblue5

fish whisperer
May 29, 2003
9
0
1
manitoba,canada
www.ebaumsworld.com
about to set up 125 gal tank. for filteration was thinking of using
2 emperor 400 's. was also thinking of maybe switching to a canister filter like the fluval. any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.
 
I've had an emporer 400 for many years. I simply love it. but recently I had an opportunity to see a canister in operation for the first time. I think I will seriously consider a canister next time I setup a new tank.
 
With only 2 emperor 400s, I would be hesitant to stock your tank with even a moderate load.... so an added canister is definately a great idea! You will find many differing opinions around here on what canister is best... but I would suggest one of the following:

1 Fluval 404
or
1 Filstar xP3
or
1 Eheim 2026

All of the filters above are easy to use, easy to prime, and have a good amount of media capacity. I've run both the Fluval 404 and Eheim 2026 and both are excellent filters. However, the Eheim is much more expensive than the Fluval and for good reason. I personally the flow design on the Eheim is better than the Fluval, and its build quality is also better.
I've heard many good things about the Filstar xP canisters. I've played around with one at my LFS, and it seems to be of pretty good build quality. Many people who use this series of canister filter are quite pleased with it.

Currently, I have two Fluval 404s running... but in the future, I don't think I will be getting another one. The Filstar xP canisters are the same price (or even cheaper) than the Fluvals, they have a bit more media capacity compared to the Fluvals, and I like the design of those filters more.
However, with that said, if I had the money, I would definately get Eheim canisters instead... just avoid the Ecco product line.. those filters are a waste of plastic.

When and if you do get a canister filter, cover the intake of the canister with a prefilter sponge (cutting a hole in an Aquaclear sponge and cover the intake will do just fine). The prefilter will prevent most waste particles from entering the filter, which will make canister maintanence much easier. This also leaves more room in your canister for biomedia. Just remember to clean out the prefilter at least once a week.

HTH
-Richer
 
thanks for the feedback.after reading what you said
RICHER, I am starting to lean towards the filstar xp3.looks to be an all around winner. must say though, if I had a money tree, I would go with the Ehiem. thanks again
 
For the best prices on eheim canisters, I have bought from ebay. I have bought four eheim 2213s there, brand new in factory packaging. Including shipping, they were between $60 and $70 each. They are great filters, I love them.

I ran one E400 on a 30g and two E400s on a 55g cichlid tank for a while. My biggest problem with them was that they are noisy. I don't mind the waterfall sounds, but I don't like the mechanical hum that they made. Some people say they are quiet. My experience was that they were not quiet. So either I was unlucky or we have different ideas on quiet. I have switched all of my tanks over to eheim canisters. The eheims are not just quiet. They are pretty much completely silent.

I haven't tried Fluval or Filstar, so can't comment on those.

Good luck with your tank!
 
I switched from a biowheel to a cannister as the 'waterfall' noise was driving me nuts!:argh

I am now using a Fluval 304 on my 29gal and so far I love it! It's almost silent once it's up and running, and you can have as much or little surface agitation as you wish by positioning the outlet pipe at whatever level in the tank you want. I've read that some people complain about air expulsion noise, but this has never been an issue with mine. The new Fluvals automatically expel air when you restart them after disconnecting for cleaning. I never have to reprime either unless I've emptied the cannister. It's a doddle to clean and maintain as well with the quick release hoses.

I must say that the Eheim fan base is HUGE and having seen a few of their filters I can see why. They look like really good quality bits of equipment. When I save up enough dosh I will change over to the Eheim Professional Wet/Dry cannister......the DADDY of all cannister filters! :D
 
I too was getting tired of the 'waterfall' noise from my Eclipse System and found a real nice deal for a Fluval 204 (20gal tank).

I ordered it today so I'm not sure when I'll get it, but I should be able to make it work.

Sorry to highjack the thread a bit, but what advice is there for the canister type filters. I've read the info about the pre-filter sponge on the intake tube. Anything else I should know?
 
Canister filters are best used as a biological filter... its just too much trouble taking those things apart and putting them back together again, compared to something like a HOB filter.
Put a pre-filter over the intake of the canister, and fill the canister with biological media. Rinse out the pre-filter at least once a week, and replace it whenever it starts to get thin, or little holes appear. A pre-filter over the intake should reduce maintanence quite significantly. I used to clean out my canisters once every two weeks... now I do it once every 4 months, and even then, there's not as much crude in there.

HTH
-Richer
 
While I am in agreement that cannister filters require a bit more work when you have to clean them compared to HOB types, the fact remains that the new generation of cannister filters have improved in their design considerably. This makes for much easier cleaning and changing of media. I also believe you can leave them for longer between cleanings. Some people do it once a month, some every 2-3 months or longer.

I have a Fluval 304 on my 29gal and it is no problem whatsoever to clean it out. I schedule mine for an inspection once a month and it takes me about 10 minutes to complete this, from disconnecting to reconnecting. I never have a problem re-priming, in fact the cannister refills itself as soon as I reconnect the hoses...top up the tank, switch on...and I'm all set!

I also manage to do a 20% water change at the same time taking my total time to about 25 minutes for a filter/water maintainance once a month. I do 20% water changes once a week also, just on their own.

Cannister filters can provide excellent mechanical, chemical and biological filtration if required....it's all down to how you set them up. They also turn over a phenomenal amount of water per hour compared to HOB filters.

I do agree with the suggestion of putting a prefilter on the intake, as this will cut down on the amount of rubbish you have to clean from the inside when you do decide to take it apart. I'm fairly sure the horror stories you hear about disgusting filters are ones that haven't been broken down for many, many months or even years!!

Think of it this way: A quick, clean and painless 10 minute job every 4-6 weeks or a long, dirty, disgusting 30-60 minute cleanup chore every 4-6 MONTHS! Regular maintenance of any aquarium equipment means spending less time trying to correct problems and more time enjoying your fish. ;)

Hope that helps...

(Now....do you think I'm a firm believer in cannisters or what! :D )
 
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